How did you pick your College Major?
- Thread starter Spiggie
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too discouraged? being a vet seems like a great career choice. if i had to do it all over again, i would think about that. i like where i am at, though. if that is something you have always wanted to do, think hard about giving it up. life is full of discouragement and ups and downs. you gotta power through. do what you think will make you happy.
1engineer
Moderator
Three questions to ask yourself:
1. What do I like?
2. What am I good at?
3. Can I earn a living at #1 or #2?
#1 and #2 sound the same but think of it like this: I like to play basketball except I am terrible at it. Earning a living in basketball is tough except for very few.
Personally I love machines and I am good with them. Engineer was a no brainer for me. My son is going through this same exercise right now and we have been making college visits. At his age (16) he is also using process of elimination which is "What do I really dislike?" He does not like anything to do with health care, he does not like law, etc. Good luck!
BrianSD_42
New member
Personally, I picked my major because I knew what 2 topics I was most interested in technology and business.
There are a lot of majors out there and it is tough trying to pick one, especially if you a community college student and will be picking your major before transferring to another school.
In order to research possible careers I suggest you check out bls.gov
There are a lot of majors out there and it is tough trying to pick one, especially if you a community college student and will be picking your major before transferring to another school.
In order to research possible careers I suggest you check out bls.gov
Outdoorlogic
New member
In my former life I worked for a University in Business Development. But half of the questions I would receive were pretty much the one you have asked. Here is my take on education:
If you want to become specialized then there is only one path:
Engineering
Education
Vet
Health/ Medical These and many more are specialized if you want that job you get that degree...
The rest of the confusing world is looking for the ( ) place X here if degree complete.
School is a hard road filled with wins and looses. Pick a degree that will keep you interested. It doesn't matter if the degree pays the highest out of college if you dont finish! Take some time surfing the employment boards and pick your dream jobs. Then look at what is required to get those jobs. This will give you a little direction as to what you need to do. Many employers are looking for a diverse workforce. Although the position is Marketing they actually want somebody with a Communications background. You follow? Many of us have our education in one field and have built careers in a completely unrelated field. So bottom line do what you will enjoy for the next 4-7 years !
If you want to become specialized then there is only one path:
Engineering
Education
Vet
Health/ Medical These and many more are specialized if you want that job you get that degree...
The rest of the confusing world is looking for the ( ) place X here if degree complete.
School is a hard road filled with wins and looses. Pick a degree that will keep you interested. It doesn't matter if the degree pays the highest out of college if you dont finish! Take some time surfing the employment boards and pick your dream jobs. Then look at what is required to get those jobs. This will give you a little direction as to what you need to do. Many employers are looking for a diverse workforce. Although the position is Marketing they actually want somebody with a Communications background. You follow? Many of us have our education in one field and have built careers in a completely unrelated field. So bottom line do what you will enjoy for the next 4-7 years !
BrianSD_42
New member
I feel like one of my recent post in the "any engineering majors here?" thread is relevant to your question.
Good luck man!
:fishing:
As I mentioned before, visit BLS.gov if you are a college or HS student. They have fact based data on every career in the United States. Go there and read up on your future job prospects then iterate as necessary
I realize engineering & tech are not for everyone but please look into your proposed field. You do not want to end up like the millions of other college students with high debt and no job prospects. It is a sad situation because most of those kids' parents failed them and these young kids were TOTALLY ignorant about the real world and realistic job prospects based on certain majors.
This is just my opinion ... if you don't think you are ready for a difficult and rewarding college program then maybe you shouldn't be in college right now. I don't think it makes any sense to choose an easy major that has limited job prospects (unless you come from wealth). IMO, you would be better off working part time and just going to the library for a few years until you are ready to really challenge yourself.
I didn't start college until I was 24. I do not think I could have done it at age 18, 19 or 20 so if you are very* unsure about your path perhaps you should hold off a few years. Once you finish that first BA/BS, financial aid vanishes. You cannot get support for a second BA/BS.
Good luck man!
:fishing:
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Dusty Driftwood
New member
I might be answering a question that wasn't directed at me (since I don't really care for my job) but I picked something I thought I would like (Marketing). As it turns out, I should have picked something I had in my blood (Engineer).
I've been kicking the idea around of going back to school, but when it comes to spending that money for a Masters in a field I already have multiple years experience or a new degree that I have 0 years experience I'm not sure I'd be happy with the decision that makes the most "practical" sense.
Your likes and dislikes will change, but you'll always be good at whats in your blood/genes.
I've been kicking the idea around of going back to school, but when it comes to spending that money for a Masters in a field I already have multiple years experience or a new degree that I have 0 years experience I'm not sure I'd be happy with the decision that makes the most "practical" sense.
Your likes and dislikes will change, but you'll always be good at whats in your blood/genes.
034RUNNER
New member
I picked Poli Sci because I thought I was going to law school. I got sick though, and my interests changed. I was told non stop with your Bachelor's, your major doesn't matter too much as long as it isn't something like Art. I do wish I had stuck to Business (marketing) but my school screwed me over with credits.
bob3dsf
New member
Archaeologist, to soldier, to firefighter.
Hmm Interesting topic. Its been a while for me but I majored in Anthropology because I was interested in archaeology. I did it and I liked it but I wasn't ready for grad school right away. I worked in my field as much as I could without a grad degree. I never felt I had the passion for grad school in my field in the same way my grad student friends had. In them it was very evident. I was interested and could appreciate all the fascinating minutia while "talking shop," but I just never could identify the burning question I felt needed an answer in order to sustain research. I still find a lot of interest in it though.
I decided to join the army in search of a steady job. It was something I had wanted to do and didn't and figured I was still young enough. I though I'd do 4 easy years like all my friends and then 9-11 happened. I still did 4 years but they weren't easy. I did enjoy it from the perspective of my team. I worked with some great guys. We all got along and worked well together. That makes all the difference in the world, for pretty much anything, but especially for the military. I'm now a firefighter. I love my job. I loved playing GI Joe and fireman as a kid. I guess you could say I've followed my dreams.... Racing down the road in a huge ladder truck with lights flashing and the siren screaming is a hell of a rush!
Hmm Interesting topic. Its been a while for me but I majored in Anthropology because I was interested in archaeology. I did it and I liked it but I wasn't ready for grad school right away. I worked in my field as much as I could without a grad degree. I never felt I had the passion for grad school in my field in the same way my grad student friends had. In them it was very evident. I was interested and could appreciate all the fascinating minutia while "talking shop," but I just never could identify the burning question I felt needed an answer in order to sustain research. I still find a lot of interest in it though.
I decided to join the army in search of a steady job. It was something I had wanted to do and didn't and figured I was still young enough. I though I'd do 4 easy years like all my friends and then 9-11 happened. I still did 4 years but they weren't easy. I did enjoy it from the perspective of my team. I worked with some great guys. We all got along and worked well together. That makes all the difference in the world, for pretty much anything, but especially for the military. I'm now a firefighter. I love my job. I loved playing GI Joe and fireman as a kid. I guess you could say I've followed my dreams.... Racing down the road in a huge ladder truck with lights flashing and the siren screaming is a hell of a rush!
LittleCaesar
New member
I threw darts at a dart board.
No, I actually picked one of my majors Poly Sci (I have four) to obtain scholarships in it in order to pay for schooling to get the other three.
I then went to law school for a year, but then said no way. Not for me. Too many out there as it is. So I got my MBA/CPA and I count numbers for a living.
No, I actually picked one of my majors Poly Sci (I have four) to obtain scholarships in it in order to pay for schooling to get the other three.
I then went to law school for a year, but then said no way. Not for me. Too many out there as it is. So I got my MBA/CPA and I count numbers for a living.
Kung
New member
Mine was easy. I was programming in BASIC at age 5. (Seriously.) I was told that I had to 'learn to use my dad's computer if I wanted to be around it and use it.'
He thought he'd taken care of that problem, being as the ONLY book he had was the BASIC programming book that came with the IBM PC Jr. he had bought. (Talk about a blast from the past.)
2 days later I showed up with a program I had painstakingly written that played some song or other, while displaying text on the screen. LOL
He thought he'd taken care of that problem, being as the ONLY book he had was the BASIC programming book that came with the IBM PC Jr. he had bought. (Talk about a blast from the past.)
2 days later I showed up with a program I had painstakingly written that played some song or other, while displaying text on the screen. LOL
Kung
New member
Were you the one who said he was an actuary? I was watching a comedian last night and he mentioned actuaries; he then said to the audience "For those who may not know what an actuary is, it's basically an accountant....except with less personality and nowhere near as exciting." LOL!
Foosmatrix
New member
I chose something that I was SURE I could easily get a job with. Went with a business degree, then got my MBA. It's working out pretty well do far
LittleCaesar
New member
Kung,
An actuary performs statistical analysis for different companies; usually you hear about them mostly working for insurance companies, taking real world data and then creating forecasts based on present and past data. More than likely your insurance company used a couple to decide your present insurance rate.
Most of these men and women are math majors. Rather dry personalities IMO (they need to be), just black and white. As a cost accountant (yawn) for a private government firm, I just find different suppliers and figure out the best cost product per basis cost.
An actuary performs statistical analysis for different companies; usually you hear about them mostly working for insurance companies, taking real world data and then creating forecasts based on present and past data. More than likely your insurance company used a couple to decide your present insurance rate.
Most of these men and women are math majors. Rather dry personalities IMO (they need to be), just black and white. As a cost accountant (yawn) for a private government firm, I just find different suppliers and figure out the best cost product per basis cost.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
How to pick a major? That's easy, check out what majors the hot chicks are taking!
But seriously, do what others suggested. Before you go jumping into a highly specific major, make sure you are committed to it and love it. My father is a surgeon and so all my life I wanted to be a Doctor. When I went to college, I started as a biology major. Realize I came from a small town in the Poconos (where I spent all of my life previously) then moved to a major city (Philadelphia). Needless to say, my world opened up and wanted to meet people. What I should've done was bury my head in the books. I wasn't a party animal, but that Bio major demanded time that I wasn't able (didn't want to) to give. I ended up destroying my GPA. AFter much soul searching, I ended up being a Management major. I loved it. My GPA soared (recovered greatly) after that. This was back in 1995, so a management major was a lot more broad as to what I wanted to do in life (which I still hadn't a clue at that point). I think at 18-21 years of age, it's dumb to know exactly what you want to do in life.
In summation: Go into what you really like, maybe something as broad as a business major. But before going into a major like Engineering (I would've loved to do that, but I'm bad at math), make sure you love it and committed to it!
Good Luck!
But seriously, do what others suggested. Before you go jumping into a highly specific major, make sure you are committed to it and love it. My father is a surgeon and so all my life I wanted to be a Doctor. When I went to college, I started as a biology major. Realize I came from a small town in the Poconos (where I spent all of my life previously) then moved to a major city (Philadelphia). Needless to say, my world opened up and wanted to meet people. What I should've done was bury my head in the books. I wasn't a party animal, but that Bio major demanded time that I wasn't able (didn't want to) to give. I ended up destroying my GPA. AFter much soul searching, I ended up being a Management major. I loved it. My GPA soared (recovered greatly) after that. This was back in 1995, so a management major was a lot more broad as to what I wanted to do in life (which I still hadn't a clue at that point). I think at 18-21 years of age, it's dumb to know exactly what you want to do in life.
In summation: Go into what you really like, maybe something as broad as a business major. But before going into a major like Engineering (I would've loved to do that, but I'm bad at math), make sure you love it and committed to it!
Good Luck!
Kung
New member
LC - I know what they are.
I just remember hearing about that from the comedian and had to laugh. Actually, they're in very high demand, from what I understand.
BrianSD_42
New member
Perhaps the kids who ARE smart enough BUT lack the maturity to get through a full undergrad of calculus based science and technology classes should hold off a few years before college.
Parents often push their kids to go to school and SO many kids blow their only shot in college because they weren't ready to dedicate themselves to the books. I joined the service because I didn't want to fail out of college and felt lost. I only took one college class and then I enlisted in the Navy.
6 years later I started college and did pretty well and graduated from an engineering program @ UCSC. I don't have any kids right now and the idea of having a 18yo male kid is pretty scary.
:gun6:
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